KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Catcher Rene Garcia made one half of the Astros walk-off winners on Tuesday in a competition that left the other half picking up balls scattered across a field — and a bullpen area. …

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Astros righthander Mark Appel threw off a mound on Thursday for the first time since his Jan. 30 appendectomy. He wasn’t throwing as hard as he could, focusing on mechanics instead. …

Astros manager Bo Porter will once again take time with one of the most revered minds in coaching history, Bill Parcells, before the start of spring training. Porter plans to meet Parcells on Tuesday, …

OAKLAND, Calif. — Big Chris Carter can hear you. He also reads the headlines and the stories, lamenting the ones that diminish his monstrous home runs by also mentioning yet another of his strikeouts. …